Congressional Cemetery Celebrates WorldPride 2025

Congressional Cemetery Celebrates WorldPride with a Full Lineup of LGBTQ+ Programs and Events This May and June.

Join us in commemorating LGBTQ+ history, honoring community, and celebrating Pride across our 35-acre urban oasis.

As an official event partner of WorldPride 2025, Historic Congressional Cemetery is proud to present a series of public events throughout May and June that honor LGBTQ+ history, identity, and advocacy. With tours, talks, runs, and a festival, we invite you to join us to experience Gay legacy through our one-of-a-kind portal into the past.

From our very first Pride tour to the DCFrontrunners Pride 5K, to the brand-new Gays and Graves Festival, Congressional has long celebrated the stories of LGBTQ+ Americans who rest here—and the community that keeps their memory alive. Whether you’re a returning visitor or joining us for the first time, we welcome you to take part in this month-long celebration of pride, remembrance, and history.

Pride Events Schedule:

• May 22:  Cemetery Speaker Series – The Pink Triangle and the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights in the U.S. featuring Dr. Jake Newsome
  This Pride themed Cemetery Speaker Series combines an LGBTQ+ tour of the grounds and an expert speaker to explore how Gay Americans used symbolism to fight for equality.

https://congressionalcemetery.org/event/cemetery-speaker-series-the-pink-triangle-and-the-fight-for-lgbtq-rights-in-the-us/

• May 28, June 2, and June 7: Pride LGBTQ+ Tours
  Explore the stories of LGBTQ+ individuals interred at Congressional, including activists, artists, service members, and pioneers.

https://congressionalcemetery.ticketleap.com/pride-lgbtq-tours-2025/

• June 1: DC Front Runners 5K Pride Run
  Join one of DC’s most dynamic LGBTQ+ running communities for one of the largest Pride events in DC.

https://congressionalcemetery.org/event/pride-run-5k-3/

• June 21: Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival
  Join us for a festival in celebration of the Gay pioneers and advocates buried at the cemetery—featuring local vendors, tours, programming, music, and tons of queer joy among the tombstones.

https://congressionalcemetery.org/event/gays-graves-a-big-gay-festival/

• Available ALWAYS: Self-Guided LGBTQ+ Walking Tour Our self-guided Pride walking tour is available on site in our tour kiosk throughout May and June, and is available online in all seasons, along with our other tours.

https://congressionalcemetery.org/self-guided-tours/

All events are open to the public. Some require RSVP or ticket purchase—please check our website for full details. This is an outdoor series, so we advise dressing for the elements and wearing appropriate footwear for uneven ground. Please note that, due to the historic nature of the site, we are not fully ADA compliant.

At Historic Congressional Cemetery, Pride is more than a month—it’s a legacy.

For all press inquiries, please contact A.J. Orlikoff, Director of Programming, at Aorlikoff@congressionalcemetery.org